A Stop on the Road is a community of working-class and queer-friendly performers building a revolutionary space away from the often-elitist mainstream. Sitting down with them highlighted the amazing role they play in helping to increase the accessibility of the creative arts.
The group was founded after the enormous success of an open-mic-style arts night, which has now converted into a monthly show format consisting of half selected performances and half open space for anyone to get up and express themselves. These shows have fostered openness and self-exploration in a non-judgmental and non-discriminatory setting, for the price of just £4 per ticket. In the current climate, especially from the location of Edinburgh University, A Stop on the Road provides an escape from the wider elitist and middle-class oriented environment that has been recently criticised for its exclusion of Scottish students, and culture of ridicule, leaving those with accents from northern areas or associated with being working-class feeling unwelcome. For students forced to work 20-hour weeks just to keep up with rising rent costs, this can be an isolating and frustrating experience, while more fortunate students spend a week’s food budget on a night out.
After explaining the need for this space, A Stop on the Road was eager to spread the word about their new creative outlet: a magazine, now open for submissions. Streetsigns is set to debut its inaugural edition, composed of almost all the creative arts you could think of. Stressing a desire for a multimedia experience, they listed some examples to get you inspired: poetry, non-fiction, journalism, short stories, essays, visual arts, and scripts. Until 20 October, get creative, everyone can be involved, student or otherwise, and nothing is too weird or wacky for consideration. It is an incredible opportunity to get your work in print.
Importantly, Streetsigns will be exclusively available in hard copy, tentatively priced at just £7 per issue. Physical media is of significant importance to A Stop on the Road, particularly in relation to ownership and the direct connection between artist, viewer and the tangible object. One of the group’s biggest priorities is paying their contributing artists as soon as financially viable, offering a key timeline for when this could realistically happen. This is admirable, given the independent nature of the group, which doesn’t receive external funding beyond ticket sales and refuses to alter its values or focus to entertain profitable advertising.
As a final departing message, A Stop on the Road adds “anyone who reads this should come along, no matter who you are… take part in us building something.” It is difficult not to feel empowered by their strong convictions and the inspiring success of their community, which continues its monthly shows on 20 October in the basement of Home Bar.
Image provided by A Stop on the Road